CREJ

74 / BUILDING DIALOGUE / March 2019 er, director of communications at UCCS. “The recital hall is one of the most acoustically perfect venues in the Rocky Mountain Region, and the space was built to be very versatile. “There is no other place in Colorado Springs that has that number of venues in that concentrated of an area. On average, during the academic year there are 15 to 20 events at the Ent Center each week. “The Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, and UCCS Visual and Performing Arts pro- gram will be using the Ent Center at the same time, and you would have no idea.” While it’s too soon to see the full impact, the Ent Center for the Arts already has surpassed expectations for the UCCS campus, the Visual and Performing Arts program, and the Col- orado Springs community. Its presence on campus not only has served as a stunning visual statement, but it has nudged the growth of other UCCS programs that were able to reclaim old classrooms and other spaces. “The Ent Center for the Arts has had a domino effect on our campus,” Verner said. “Education and Chemistry programs have been able to expand and offer more to our students. We’ve added labs, offices and classrooms. “Our students are ecstatic to have the space to thrive.” And JE Dunn, the construction manager and general con- tractor for the project, shares the enthusiasm, having accom- plished its goal of building perfection. “The Ent Center for the Arts was a tremendous opportunity for me to work on a performing arts center in my own back- yard. The number of performing arts events that have taken place in our community has greatly increased which has been a tremendous benefit to UCCS and the Colorado Springs com- munity,” said Matt Vineyard, senior project manager, JE Dunn Construction. \\ / Ent Center for the Arts / OPENING ART: Ent Center for the Arts at dusk and midday LEFT: The 250-seat recital hall has impeccable acoustics. RIGHT: The arts center also features a 768-seat theater.